Planning and investing in our people

We want everyone to achieve their full potential, especially our staff, who are all central to our success.

So we invest in training, including supporting people to gain career qualifications.

By encouraging people to learn and improve their skills, and promoting internally, we support succession planning for our future business.

Hear from HSQE adviser Chantal Austin about her career progression.

Find out more about health, safety, quality and environment at VGC on the HSQE page.

We support our workforce to gain lifelong qualifications.

Each year we support a number of apprentices to join and develop their careers in construction. Our successful apprentices on Crossrail include Lee Van Cliff, who is now an engineer’s assistant. Our support for people on Crossrail led to one of Crossrail’s most prestigious sustainability awards..

Groundworker Andrew Dawes is one of 11 people working at Hinkley Point who gained NVQ and BTEC qualifications early in 2019. He gained a NVQ level 2 Diploma in Construction and Civils Operations, and also the BTEC Diploma in Construction Operations. He said: “I found the scheme very beneficial and would recommend this approach to any new entrants to the industry.”

In 2021 we had more than 130 members of staff achieve lifelong NVQ qualifications, from level 2 to level 6, which is the equivalent to a degree.

We encourage our office staff in continuous professional development

We don’t have space to record everyone’s achievements, but success stories include:

Skills and employment adviser Kimberley McGinty and labour manager Dan Parkinson achieved their City and Guilds level 3 award in education and training from Uxbridge College in August 2019. Kimberley was promoted to CSR manager a few months later. They are both supporting local schools and young people to consider STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) careers.

Marketing manager Zena Wigram achieved the Prince 2 practitioner qualification in May 2015, and a post-graduate diploma in data-driven marketing from the Institute of Data and Marketing in 2020.

Joanne O’Hara achieved her foundation degree from the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals in 2020.

Works manager Jason Elley achieved a level 7 NVQ Diploma in Construction Senior Management in July 2021. This is the equivalent of a master’s degree or post-graduate diploma.

Krista Edwards, assistant quantity surveyor, is currently working on an apprenticeship leading to a quantity surveying degree.